Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Wolcott has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putnam | Sterling | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
16,279Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
| Wolcott and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
| Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,799Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sterling School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Wolcott High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.